"Flames of War Pacific Theater resources." Topic

Howdy y'all! As mentioned above are their any sources for Pacific Theater armies? Are their any unofficial fansites available with rules for jungle wafare? Thanks in advance and Salut y'all!

Bruce the Texas Grognard

link

would be an excellent start. A lot of information is available from this group.

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think that FoW would handle the Pacific all that well. I am saying this as a huge FoW fanboy.
Maybe the Philippines in 1941-1942, but later? Idunno, but am willing to be convinced.

In my experience, FOW does a fine job for scenario driven Pacific theater games. The real differences between the Pacific and other theaters lies in the terrain, which is easy enough to work with with a little effort. To start with, for most of the jungle environments, simply declare every part of your table not otherwise marked as jungle. In FOW this area terrain will limit all line of sight to 6", prevent rapid movement of troops, and prevent movement of all but fully tracked vehicles. Trails become very important. River obstacles, ridges, and other areas of clear terrain become critical defense points because they allow interlocking fields of fire. Otherwise, the assault rules the day. The FOW yahoogroup has briefings with various people's (including mine and MIke Miller's) interpretations of forces unique to the PTO.

A report from my latest FOW-PTO game is here: link

That said, I'll agree that the standard FOW model of a point-based pick up (or tournament) game down at the LGS probably will not capture the right feel.

Brian

John says:

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think that FoW would handle the Pacific all that well.

What is it about FOW that can't handle the Pacific Theatre, whereas Disposable Heroes (another game I play) can?

Maybe the Philippines in 1941-1942, but later?

Why, what happened 2 years later that FOW can't handle?

Ralph

The Philippines "campaign" was more or less fought in the open.
In my opinion, later campaigns were much too constricted in terrain. I could be wrong, but I do not see much of a game featuring Guadalcanal fought with FoW. I am not saying it could not be fought, but that it would not be a very good game.

I KNOW you can fight Iwo Jima too, but would it be an interesting game? Tarawa? Peleilu? To me, FoW does not have the FEEL. I could be wrong.

It's more to do with the nature of the fighting. Many people I know or have spoken with find the PTO intriguing history but not too much fun to game, especially playing the Japanese. To sum up their argument, "what fun is it to play a force that rarely if ever leaves its caves and bunkers". A rather narrow view of the Pacific war but a view that keeps some people from gaming the period.

Well, I hope I am wrong.

It is normally quite difficult to get a set of general ww2 rules to work for jungle fighting, but there isnt a set I have come across that couldnt be adjusted with some home brew to get the right effects. jungle fighting would actually alleviate the sliding scale effects so fow could be regarded as closer to jungle fighting as it stands.

Maybe some street fighting and ambush rules could be modified to suit.

It's more to do with the nature of the fighting. Many people I know or have spoken with find the PTO intriguing history but not too much fun to game, especially playing the Japanese. To sum up their argument, "what fun is it to play a force that rarely if ever leaves its caves and bunkers". A rather narrow view of the Pacific war but a view that keeps some people from gaming the period.

one of my favorite army's is my festung company. a german bunker defense company .

FOW seems to thrive on releasing lots of books with lots of lists, wouldnt that be a problem in this theater. Basically the same troops, infantry with little support?? Most likely im wrong, I know very little about the Pacific ground fighting.

Cheers 2nd BB